The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has fined a building contractor, after an employee suffered severe crush injuries and fractures when a wall collapsed.

In March 2009, builder Jason Lunnon from Barnet was working on a building site in Field Road, Newham, southeast London, when the wall collapsed. Mr Lunnon was working on the first floor of a partially-built block of flats when the accident happened, and sustained a broken back and ribs – his back was broken in four places and he broke seven ribs.

The HSE investigation found that the wall that collapsed had been built on the third floor the previous day, but had not been properly secured and a gust of wind blew it over. Concrete blocks fell more than seven metres and landed on top of Mr Lunnon.

HSE investigators discovered that the principal contractor Keith Gardner – trading as K P Gardner Builders – had failed to plan, manage and monitor work at the site correctly.

On Friday (21/05/10) at the City of London Magistrates’ Court, Mr Gardner – of Cairns Avenue, Woodford Green in Waltham Forest, East London – pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Mr Gardner was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £6,969.50 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Paul Hems said that, despite his injuries, Jason Lunnon was ‘lucky to be alive’.

‘This could have so easily been a much more serious incident,’ said Mr Hems. ‘As the builder in charge of the project, Mr Gardner was responsible for ensuring the health and safety of everyone working at the site. This included ensuring the stability of walls during construction.’

Mr Hems added that Mr Gardner had been made aware of the wind affecting the newly-built walls – but had failed to take appropriate action to ensure their stability.

The HSE investigation also found other safety failings at the site, including failure to properly manage risks of falling, said Mr Hems.

‘There was a comprehensive failure to implement key elements of the construction phase plan,’ he added.

© 5r1 Claims Limited